I let mine go home between 12 and 16 weeks. I kept a couple til they were 16 weeks because they did not yet weigh two pounds. I like them to have 2 pounds of weight so they are more substantial and not quite as fragile when they go to their new home. I also held on to one longer for my sister as she had to get off work to travel here to pick hers up. I think 16 weeks is really the ideal time to go to a new home. It really gives them a good start, plenty of socialization and learning with mom and siblings. It ensures their little bones are a little sturdier and their GI systems a little better developed. It also gave me time to itroduce them all to house-training. This last litter every new owner thanked me profusely as they already had house-trained puppies.
You will have no problem bonding with a 16 week old over a 12 week old. I would not recommend ever getting one before 12 weeks. Even a 6 month old puppy has lots of time to bond and still be your "puppy" before it matures into an adult. Sometimes I think the reason I love yorkies so much is that they seem like perpetual puppies.
Good luck with your new addition! |